Off The List: Our missing retail links

So I learned when I asked Business Review readers about what is missing from our area's retail offerings.

I got so many responses, in fact, that I couldn't research them all. Which is great; I'd rather get too many than too few.

But I also had to pare down the suggestions a little. So, this post will focus on chains that got multiple nominations, though I will list all the suggestions that came my way at the end.

Don't forget: As part of the Shopping Centers List (coming Oct. 25!), you can see the responses from local property owners and managers. And if you're wondering why you don't see your suggestion on here, know that two very popular reader choices were also put forth by the property managers, so they will get their due later in the week.
Anyway, here are the chains that got the most attention.

NordstromClosest store to Albany: 136 miles (Paramus, New Jersey)Several requests came in for the high-end department store Nordstrom. One reader wanted a "real" Nordstrom here, not a Nordstrom Rack (the outlet version) and suggested higher-end merchandise could sell here if given a chance. That was a sentiment echoed by more than one person who responded to me.

CostcoClosest store to Albany: 68 miles (West Springfield, Massachusetts) The most popular suggestion on this list, Costco is one of the largest retailers in the world. Like Sam's Club and B.J.'s Wholesale Club, you pay a membership fee to get the discount price while shopping at its warehouse-style stores.

The Container StoreClosest store to Albany: 136 miles (Paramus, New Jersey)A store that sells things that hold other things? Well, yes, actually. The Container Store does indeed sell containers (and plenty of other storage options) but it also sells a large number of tools for organizing things. This is the smallest chain that received multiple requests, with only 60 stores in the U.S. as of May.

SonicClosest restaurant to Albany: 49 miles (Kingston)Thanks to the way television stations parcel out regional coverage, you've probably seen a few (or several thousand) commercials for Sonic over the years. We don't have any here in the Albany region, but there are a number all around us. The fast-food chain has a reputation for having top-notch milkshakes and deserts, as well as carhop servers, and has more than 3,500 locations across the country. (Though not here, despite their advertisements.)

WawaClosest location to Albany: PennsylvaniaA gas station and convenience store chain that has a big presence in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Wawa appears to have some fans in the area. At one point, Wawa had a presence in the New York metro area, but sold off its stores. It has recently started to get into the Florida market and is growing in northern New Jersey, but for now, the company has zero stores in our state.